Activist urges foreign workers to learn Thai

Conservation activist Siranudh "Psi" Samutt has called on foreign employees in Thailand to be able to speak Thai, arguing that workers should not rely solely on English while employed in the country.

His comments, posted on his X account @Psisamutt on Saturday, August 8, drew broad support from Thai social media users and renewed discussion about language expectations in tourist areas and workplaces.

Psi said he normally answers in Thai when foreign restaurant staff address him in English. If they cannot take his order in Thai, he said, he asks to speak to a Thai member of staff instead.

"I'm in Thailand, and I prefer to speak Thai," he wrote. Psi said he viewed foreign workers who were employed in Thailand but could not speak Thai as taking advantage of the country.

Online debate over language at work

The activist also compared the situation with Thai people working abroad, saying they are expected to develop language skills in countries including Japan and the United States because of those nations' strong cultures and global influence.

He criticised businesses which, he said, reduce costs by employing migrant workers even though Thailand's minimum wage for Thai workers is not high. Psi called on employers to hire Thai staff and urged Thai workers to improve their skills.

The post attracted considerable attention, with many Thai users backing his position. Some said they had had to communicate in English throughout trips to Phuket and Koh Tao, while others reported encountering Indonesian and Filipino staff at hotels in tourist locations.

Several commenters said they felt uncomfortable having to use English when travelling or receiving services in their own country. They said they had tried to communicate with foreign staff in English but believed those employees had made less effort to learn Thai.

Some users called for a government Thai-language test for foreigners applying for work, similar to requirements they said exist in other countries. However, the discussion followed an activist's social media post; no new government language requirement was announced in the material provided.

Thailand's foreign workforce is substantial. A Department of Employment report released in November last year put the number of foreign employees at around 3.9 million to 4 million, including migrant workers employed under memorandums of understanding.

The report said foreign worker numbers rose sharply during 2025 before beginning to decline after peaking around the middle of the year.

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13 August 2026

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